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Ex-Germany Midfielder Ozil Announces End of Playing Career

12 October 2016, Lower Saxony, Hannover: Germany's Mesut Ozil looks on during the national anthem ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifier match between Germany and Northern Ireland at the HDI Arena. (dpa)
12 October 2016, Lower Saxony, Hannover: Germany's Mesut Ozil looks on during the national anthem ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifier match between Germany and Northern Ireland at the HDI Arena. (dpa)
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Ex-Germany Midfielder Ozil Announces End of Playing Career

12 October 2016, Lower Saxony, Hannover: Germany's Mesut Ozil looks on during the national anthem ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifier match between Germany and Northern Ireland at the HDI Arena. (dpa)
12 October 2016, Lower Saxony, Hannover: Germany's Mesut Ozil looks on during the national anthem ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifier match between Germany and Northern Ireland at the HDI Arena. (dpa)

Germany's World Cup-winning midfielder Mesut Ozil announced his retirement from football at the age of 34 on Wednesday.

The former Real Madrid and Arsenal player was a key member of Germany's World Cup-winning side in Brazil in 2014.

He retired from the squad in 2018 amid a political debate in Germany about an influx of migrants and after backlash over a photograph taken with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying he faced "racism and disrespect" over his Turkish ancestry.

"I've had the privilege to be a professional football player for almost 17 years now and I feel incredibly thankful for the opportunity," Ozil, who most recently played for Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir, said in a statement on Instagram.

"But in recent weeks and months, having also suffered some injuries, it's become more and more clear that it's time to leave the big stage of football."

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Gauff Taking a Lot of Positives from her Performance in Madrid Despite Loss

Runner-up Coco Gauff of the USA poses with ther trophy after losing the women's Singles final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Mutua Madrid Open, in Madrid, Spain, 03 May 2025. EPA/Chema Moya EPA-EFE/Chema Moya
Runner-up Coco Gauff of the USA poses with ther trophy after losing the women's Singles final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Mutua Madrid Open, in Madrid, Spain, 03 May 2025. EPA/Chema Moya EPA-EFE/Chema Moya
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Gauff Taking a Lot of Positives from her Performance in Madrid Despite Loss

Runner-up Coco Gauff of the USA poses with ther trophy after losing the women's Singles final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Mutua Madrid Open, in Madrid, Spain, 03 May 2025. EPA/Chema Moya EPA-EFE/Chema Moya
Runner-up Coco Gauff of the USA poses with ther trophy after losing the women's Singles final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Mutua Madrid Open, in Madrid, Spain, 03 May 2025. EPA/Chema Moya EPA-EFE/Chema Moya

Coco Gauff got past the disappointment of losing the Madrid Open final to Aryna Sabalenka and was celebrating a solid week that will make her the top-ranked American woman on Monday.
The 21-year-old Gauff is set to reach No. 3 in the world, moving past countrywoman Jessica Pegula.
"Overall there's a lot of positives to take," The Associated Press quoted Gauff as saying. “Obviously disappointed with maybe how I played (in the final). I feel like I could have showed up better. But I went from an 0-6 set in the first round and made it to the final, so happy with that. Obviously hoping for more next time."
Gauff lost in straight sets — 6-3, 7-6 (3) — to the top-ranked Sabalenka on Saturday. She had started her campaign by rallying to a 0-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory over Dayana Yastremska, then picked up straight-set wins over Ann Li, Belinda Bencic, Mirra Andreeva and second-ranked Iga Swiatek in the semifinals. Gauff overpowered Swiatek in a commanding 6-1, 6-1 victory.
"Speaking on the week as a whole, on the ground I think today was like the only day where I felt really tested, and obviously in my first round, too," Gauff said after the final. "So there’s a lot of positives to take, and I think especially coming maybe from the last few weeks where I didn’t feel as confident on the ground, I think it is a step in the right direction, and just trying to look at the positives of it all. I don’t like losing, first final loss since the French Open, so it’s a feeling that I know I don’t like."
It was only the second loss in a WTA tour final for Gauff, with the other coming against Swiatek at the 2022 French Open.
"I hate losing a lot, and especially in finals, because it’s like you’re so close," Gauff said. “But obviously if I can lose this and go a few more finals undefeated I’ll take that. Each time it’s a learning experience, and maybe I needed to feel this loss again to be motivated again, even more motivated for the next one.”
The 2023 US Open champion squandered a set point at 5-4 in the second set in the final against Sabalenka in Madrid. She lost 17 points in a row at one stage in the first set on the Caja Magica center court. Gauff had four more winners than Sabalenka, but also seven more unforced errors.
“My first serve has been such a weapon this week, so just wish I could have served better (in the final),” Gauff said.